Dhaka:President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on Canada to enhance its investment in Bangladesh and broaden cooperation across various sectors.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the President made this appeal during a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh at Bangabhaban. During the meeting, the Canadian envoy delivered a congratulatory message from the Governor General of Canada, Louise Arbour, to which President Mirza Fakhrul expressed his appreciation.
The President highlighted Canada's strong democratic traditions and sought its assistance in strengthening democracy in Bangladesh. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the current government due to a prolonged absence of democratic practices and parliamentary traditions, noting ongoing reforms to institutionalize democracy.
High Commissioner Ajit Singh pointed out that bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Canada now surpasses 4 billion Canadian dollars annually, suggesting potential for further expansion. He also mentioned an upcoming visit by a Canadian minister responsible for foreign affairs to Bangladesh.
President Mirza Fakhrul called for increased Canadian cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, food security, fertilizer, IT, and outsourcing. He emphasized the need for collaboration in education, particularly in technical education, technology, nursing, and medical fields.
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, the High Commissioner highlighted Canada's support, stating that the Canadian government has provided approximately 600 million Canadian dollars in assistance. President Mirza Fakhrul expressed gratitude for this support and urged Canada to help build international pressure for the voluntary and safe return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He also noted the contribution of over 100,000 Bangladeshis to Canada's development. The meeting was attended by the President's secretaries, senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Political Counsellor of the Canadian High Commission, Marcus Devies.